12 GOOD HABITS OF A FREELANCER

Freelancers often have great success. You can work whenever and wherever you want and can be your boss. You can get up early and wake up before the rest of the world, or you can sleep and nap as much as you want. Spending more time with your family, pets, and other loved ones while taking better care of your emotional and physical health is possible if you make it a priority. You are accountable for your bottom line, business goals, values, and work ethic, as well as your communication style and client demands. Additionally, you must maintain your organization and guard against work-related stress and burnout. Here are the top 12behaviorss for becoming a more effective and productive freelancer, according to my experience as a freelancer of over three years.

1. Read A Book Every Week

The advantages of reading include improved intelligence, better habits, and a fresh outlook on daily life. You may learn how to effectively communicate, plan, and budget inside your company for better outcomes and more productivity by reading books specifically connected to your industry.

You are a good freelancer if you read a book every week.

2. THE NETWORKING HABIT

It must also be precise. If you're a developer, you don't want folks mistakenly calling you a web designer, etc. Get the word out about yourself right away among your existing network of friends, family, and colleagues; this is free word-of-mouth advertising for you.

Your network has to be expanded and improved after this is finished. Join any social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter that can be useful to you. Start establishing yourself in the appropriate circles there.

3. THE NICHING HABIT?

Freelancers should develop the practice of establishing their niches in addition to identifying existing ones. For instance, if you excel in building websites for golf facilities, that would be a terrific specialization.

?Building your niches proactively is the key to this practice. Look for profitable industries in which you may operate and focus on developing niches.

?You can charge more because of your breadth of knowledge because you are an authority in that field.

4. THE GROWTH HABIT?

?According to some estimates, expanding an existing client base requires seven times more effort than acquiring new ones. To find fresh ways to assist your clients, you should actively look at them in detail as part of your growth habit. Cross-referencing is one useful method for doing this.

?On the top of an Excel sheet, list all of your services. Then, list your clients in the left-hand column. Put an X where a service you provided matches a client now.?

Before putting too much effort into trying to attract new customers, all of the boxes without an X represent possible growth opportunities that should be investigated.

5. They're organized

When you work with several clients at once, it's simple to feel lost. Successful freelancers understand the importance of time, space, and life organization. You can maximize your time by being organized. The time is there, the files are where they should be, and the contacts you want are exactly where you need them.

?Clients should be informed that you are busy and only accept meetings at specified hours. You didn't go from an 8-hour job to a 12-hour job! Be cautious about scheduling your time and be aware of your limits. When it's finished, it's finished.

6. They interview clients

You aren't going to an interview to get a job. Setting up a meeting with the client allows you to learn about their issue and determine how you can assist them. Therefore, stop behaving like an employee who only responds to inquiries and start acting like a true expert who conducts customer interviews and poses questions. When you first start, the procedure could seem challenging. Creating a list of questions for the client is a smart move.

With the help of these inquiries, you may quickly gain a general understanding of the client and determine whether there are any warning signs.

7. They're active learners

Successful independent contractors are aware of their shortcomings and work to overcome them.

?Set aside a certain amount of time each week to work on yourself. Boost your writing, marketing, and design abilities. You don't have all the answers.

?To advance your job, you should always seek education. You can learn from books, YouTube, Udacity, and Coursera without attending college. Learn everything you can.

8. They have multiple income streams

As Warren Buffett once advised, do not put all of your eggs in one basket.

Don't depend on a single client, project, or source. You will lose everything if you lose that source of income.

Make sure to hunt for clients elsewhere if you freelance on Upwork. As a result, you still have clients elsewhere if Upwork decides to ban you from the platform or a client gives you a negative review.

?It would be best if you established a professional network on LinkedIn, Quora, Medium, and in person. Participate in events, build a strong portfolio, and be everywhere.

9. They under-promise and over-deliver

Promise only what you can provide, and then go above and above.

A heavy rock shouldn't be placed on your shoulders unless you lift it. Many independent contractors, like myself, make the mistake of trying to unlock the gates of heaven for their clients to land that work.

?Since the client's website has a low DA, the great article you promised to produce for them wouldn't necessarily rank on page 1 of Google.

?You'll become frustrated and stressed. You promised the customer that you would create a website of the highest caliber, but he needs it finished in two weeks.

10. They take control

You must assume responsibility and conduct yourself like a true business owner if you want to work on top-notch assignments as a successful freelancer.

?It will be simpler to take charge if you adhere to the advice to start with the end in mind given above. Make it clear to the client that you are a professional, not a low-cost freelancer.

?Inform him that you are not the right person to work with if he wants to control every last aspect. He's probably the incorrect customer; thus, it's okay if he chooses to hire someone else.

11. They remember to breathe

Taking some time off is acceptable. If you didn't put in 8 hours a day, that's okay.

?Don't be like me; I'm probably not the best person to offer this advice. You're allowed to take breaks. Nowadays, you choose to earn money over spending time with your family.

?Maintaining good health is more important than having all the money in the world. Look after your family.

You'll want to spend every last penny tomorrow for a little time with those you care about.

So, work while remembering to breathe.

12. Set Your Goals

Are you going to pursue it full-time?

Do you freelance merely to supplement your regular income?

You must establish your goals before you begin freelancing so that you can plan. Your income level is one of the things you need to determine without a doubt.

?Do you have a product in development that you want to bootstrap with freelance work?

Spend some time answering those questions truthfully.

No matter what detours may occur on your freelance path, the answers will help you stay on course.

Conclusion

Here are the 12 behaviors you should develop to be a successful freelancer: I hope you learn these 12 good habits and become a good freelancer. It is not a difficult task. After reading this whole, you will calm down that becoming a good freelancer is not difficult.